1 power worker dead, 3 injured in torrential rain in Albania

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — A power company worker died and three others were injured Thursday after torrential rain in Albania flooded agricultural land, damaged roads and left tens of thousands of people without electricity, authorities said.

An Albanian government statement said the employee was killed in the western city of Fier and three others were injured in the northern city of Shkodra while making repairs to the electricity network. It said the outage was affecting 75,000 households.

Dozens of people were evacuated in the districts of Gjirokastra, Berat and Albania's capital, Tirana. Ten houses have been destroyed in Kamez town, not far from Tirana.

There have also been problems with the water supply in the northern town of Bulqiza.

Water up to one meter high (3.9 feet) blocked the western highway entrance to Tirana. Weather forecasters said Puka, a town in the country's north, received 120 millimeters (4.72 inches) of rain, with more expected overnight.

The Interior Ministry said some 170 hectares (420 acres) flooded in Shkodra district while mudslides temporarily blocked traffic in Gjirokastra area.

Damage to the electricity network cut off the power supply to scores of villages.

Elementary schools in three southern villages in Tepelena were temporarily closed, and the Education Ministry canceled all school classes nationwide on Friday.

Ferries to neighboring Greece and nearby Italy were suspended.

The country's civil emergency office has forecast more heavy rain in the next four days.

Defense Minister Olta Xhacka said the army was put on alert and urged residents to follow advice from emergency local officials.

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